Refrigerated cream and butter dispenser



1957 l. o. MELTESEN 7 2,801,529

REFRIGERATED CREAM AND BUT TER DISPENSER Filed Dec. 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

Fig.4

1. o. MELTESEN 2,801,529

REFRIGERATED CREAM AND BUTTER DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 6, 1957 Filed Dec. 28, 1955 Fig.2

Irene 0. Mel/esn I INVENTOR.

flited States Patent ()T a Application December 2s, 1955,Serial No. 555,912

" 4 Claims; (Cl. 62--141) This invention comprises novel and useful improvements. in. a refrigerated cream container and more particularly relates .to a portable refrigerated cabinet provided ,witha refrigerating chamber for cream and butter together with a self-contained refrigerating systern of the motor-compressor type. a a

Ibo, principal object of this invention is to provide a refrigerated containerhaving improved means for retainiiig]crleain and butter in .a cool condition and for dispensingt es'ame. t i a j further object of the invention is to provide a device in" accordance with the preceding object in which refrigcrating coils'of the refrigerating system shall surround the cream container and at least partially surround the butter storage container in improved heat exchange relation therewith T A further object ofthe invention is to provide a device las set forth in "the foregoing objects having improved means for draining condensate from the interior of. the

refrigerating chamber,

jects in which a single cover shall provide independent closures for theopen upper ends of the refrigerated cabinet and of the cream container.

An additional important object of the invention is to provide a refrigerated cabinet as set forth hereinbefore and wherein access may be had to the butter storage container from the exterior of the cabinet. 7

gAnadditionalobjectof the invention is to provide a device incompliance with the foregoingobjects in which .='clrille d cr eam may be automatically dispensed from the vrefrigerated container in the interior of the cabinet by rn'eans "of a pressure operated valve upon the exterior ofthe cabinet.

". iiiAnd. a :finalimportant object of the invention to be specifically enumerated herein resides in the provision of a portable refrigerated cabinet in accordance with the foregoing objects wherein a compartment in the base of the cabinet shall house a motor-compressor unit and a condenser unit of the refrigerating system.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings apart hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerated cabinet for storing cream and butter in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical central sectional view taken upon an enlarged scale substantially upon the plane indicated 2,801,529 Patented Aug. 6, 1957 2 by section line 22 of Figure 1 and showing the internal construction of the refrigerated cabinet;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by section line 3-3 of Figure 1 and showingupon an enlarged scale the mounting of the removable butter storage container in the refrigerated cabinet and the association of certain of the refrigerating coils relative thereto; and

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure l and upon an enlarged scale, part being broken away. i

The refrigerated cabinet in accordance with this invention, indicated generallyby the numeral 10, is preferably of areadily portable and compact nature'and'is adapted for use in restaurants or the like, and contains a refrigerating system therein whereby cream and butter may be maintained in a chilled condition together with means for dispensing either of these products.

Referring first to Figure 2 it will be seen that the cabinet consists of a cylindrical outer casing 12 which is open at its upper end and which is provided with a cylindrical insulating lining 14 of fiberglass or any other insulating materiaL. A lining 16 is disposed inside the casing 12 and the lining 14, and a refrigerating chamber is constituted by the interior of the lining. This refrigerating chamber is likewise open at its upper end and is provided with a sloping bottom wall 18. insulating material .20 is also disposed between the bottom Wall 18 and the wall 22 which constitutes the top wall of an intermediate compartment 24 which in turn rests upon a housing member 26 constituting the base of the cabinet and Which-is provided with a compartment 28 in which is disposed a conventional motor-compressor unit 30 and a condenser unit 32. j

The intermediate compartment 24 not only serves to mount the casing 12 of the refrigerated container upon thebase portion 26, but also provides insultion therebetween. For this purpose, although the compartment 24 may be filled with any suitable insulating material, it preferably is evacuated to provide vacuum insulation means.

The refrigerating system includes a refrigerating coil 34, the convolutions of which are disposed adjacent the interior wall of the chamber within the lining 16. The upper convolutions of the coil are disposed closely adjacent the open upper end of the chamber and lie beneath an annular ring 36 which is secured to the lining 16 in any desired manner adjacent the open top of the same. A supply conduit 38supplies refrigerant to the coils 34, while a return conduit 49 connects the coils with the motor-compressor unit.

It should be here noted that the refrigerating system may be of any desired character, there being conveniently provided a thermostatic control 42 together with the other usual elements of a refrigerating system for regulating the flow of refrigerant from the condenser 32 into the refrigerating coil 34 and thereby controlling the temperature maintained within the refrigerating chamber of the cabinet, the motor-compressor unit being supplied with power as by means of electric cables 44 from any suitable source.

A drain conduit t5 provided with a discharge cock 48 extends through the wall of the cabinet. and communicates with the refrigerating chamber adjacent the lowermost portion of the sloping bottom wall 18 thereof for removing any condensate accumulating when the apparatus is defrosted.

Removably positioned in the upper portion of the refrigerating chamber is a cylindrical container 46 for cream or other liquid, the container having an 'outturned annular flange 48 adapted to rest upon and be supported by the mounting bracket or ring 36 previously mentioned.

Hand grips may be provided upon the interior of the container adjacent its upper end to facilitate removal of the container from the open upper end of the refrigerated chamber. A sloping bottom wall 52 is provided for the container, the same terminating at its lowest portion in a sump '54. A discharge conduit 56 extends through the side of the cabinet and has its adit 58 formed by an upturned end portion of the conduit and which is removably received in a rubber bushing 60 or other suitable packing member at the lowermost portion of the sump 54. The arrangement is such that the container may be lifted outwardly of the cabinet by sliding the sealing means 60 o'fi? the adit end 58 of the conduit, and the parts may be reassembled by a reverse operation.

An insulated cover 62 provided with a hand grip 64 is provided to constitute a combined closure means for both the refrigerated chamber and for the container. For this purpose, the cover 62 is provided with an annular depending portion 66 which is received Within the open upper end of the lining 16 enclosing the refrigerated chamber, and is also provided with a further depending annular portion 68 which is received within the open upper end of the container 46. By means of a suitable gasket or the like 70 disposed between the cover and the wall of the cabinet, the cover establishes an insulated closure for the open upper ends of both the refrigerated cabinet and of the container. By removing the cover, the container may be readily removed from or introduced into the cabinet as above set forth.

Upon its exterior surface, the cabinet is provided with a support, in the form of a bracket or shelf 72 which is adapted to support a cup 74 or other vessel into which cream is to be dispensed from the discharge end 76 of the conduit 56. For this purpose there is provided a discharge valve indicated generally by the numeral 78 which may be of any conventional construction, this valve having a control member 79 which is adapted to be actuated by the positioning of a vessel or cup upon the shelf 72. When actuated, the valve will be opened to dispense a measured quantity of cream.

Provision is also made within the refrigerated chamber for storing butter or other solid products. For this purpose there is provided a container 80 of any suitable character and which may be provided with a plurality of shelves or partitions 82 to facilitate the storage of butter or other product therein. The butter storage container is slidably received in an opening in the casing 12 of the cabinet, and is provided with a handle 84 upon its front wall for drawing the butter storage container out of the cabinet or returning the same thereto. For this purpose any suitable sealing means 86 may be provided in an access opening in-the casing 12 as shown in Figures 3 and 4. In order to insure adequate refrigeration of the contents of the butter storage container, as well as to perv mit the removal of the same from the cabinet, certain lower convolutions of the refrigerating coil are modified from their normal circular contour, as shown in Figure 4, to at least partially embrace and surround the sides of the butter storage containers. Thus, certain of the convolutions are provided with 'U-shaped portions 88 which have re-entrant legs 90 and 92 disposed on opposite sides of the butter storage compartment. There is thus provided a recess in a portion of the refrigerating coils in which the butter storage compartment may be disposed for effective refrigeration of the same.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative onlyof the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur it to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the-scope of the invention as claimed. 1

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A refrigerated cream container comprising a relatively light weight, compact and portable cabinet having a chamber therein and a cover, means including'a refrigeration coil having its convolutions adjacent the wall of the chamber from top to bottom thereof for refrigerating the chamber, a cream container removably mounted in the upper portion of said chamber and disposed within said coil and supported by the uppermost convolution thereof, a downwardly inclined discharge conduit having an adit communicating with the interior of the container through the bottom thereof and having its outlet extending through the side of the chamber and disposedon the eitterior of the chamber, said cabinet having a door through the wall thereof, said convolutions having reentrant portions adjacent said door to provide a recess, a butter cone tainer disposed in said recess and removable through said door.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said reentrant portions of the refrigerating coil includes horizontally disposed convolutions partially encircling'said butter storage container and are disposed adjacent the bottom of said chamber.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said container has a sloping bottom wall, a sump in the lowest portion of the bottom wall, the adit of said conduit being positioned in said sump, said chamber having a bottom wall inclining in the opposite direction from the container bottom wall, a condensation draining cock extending from the exterior of the cabinet into the chamber at the lowest portion of said bottom wall.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said recess and said butter container are disposed at the lowest portion of the chamber bottom wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,790,236 Hull Jan. 27, 1931 1,895,859 Mufily Jan.31, 1933 1,989,588 Cullen Jan. 29, 1935 2,024,639 Greene Dec. 17, 1935 2,039,188 Reeves Apr. 28, 1936 2,512,395 Sundberg June 20, 1950 2,629,228 Bergman Feb. 24, 1953 

